Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley is stopped by the Detroit Lions defense at the goal line on fourth down during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson, file)

THOUSAND OAKS >> This Rams season has truly been a test of Todd Gurley’s patience.

Patience, first of all, with the questions. Week after week, reporters pester the running back with similar queries: Why aren’t you as successful as you were last year? Are you getting frustrated? Is this finally the breakout week?

This cycle will continue until Gurley again maximizes his superstar talents, but when exactly that happens remains maddeningly unclear after eight games. To be sure, much of the fault does not lie with the reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year — as both his coaches and teammates have said, week after week. But with a top-five rushing defense looming this Sunday against the New York Jets (10 a.m., FOX), it’s difficult to imagine that the Rams have the answers to finally help him find his rhythm.

Not only did Gurley get a season-low 12 carries last Sunday, but the team gave him consecutive carries just once in their 13-10 loss to the Panthers — on the second and third plays of the game.

“You’ve just got to get your mind right,” Gurley said. “You never know what the play call is. Sometimes, like I said, I’ve had times in college where I got the ball five times in a row, and you know you’re going to get it again.

“But, you just got to man up and do your best.”

The former Georgia star must exercise his patience in other ways as well. While the Rams’ offensive line has done him no favors — it is rated as the league’s worst run-blocking unit by Pro Football Focus — the former No. 10 overall pick has also missed some of the rare openings. It was a reality that he hinted at Friday when asked about the need to exercise patience as a running back.

“If the play is not designed to hit outside,” he said, “then don’t make up in your mind, ‘Oh, I know it’s not going to be up inside, so I’ll just go outside.’ Just making sure you’re on the same track as everybody else, because once you start to predetermine stuff, that’s when you know you’re not on the same page as your linemen, you try to bounce it outside, you get holding calls. You just want to stay consistent.”

Road trippin’

The quirks of NFL scheduling have made road warriors out of the Rams, forcing them to play five of their first eight games away from the Coliseum. The next month offers little respite: Three of their next four take place on the other side of the Mississippi.

At least the rigors of travel are easier than they used to be — particularly when it comes to pregame prep and in-flight nutrition.

“In the old days, it was a hamburger and fries and who knows what was going to go on,” said Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. “It’s a lot better now. It really is.”

Williams credited head coach Jeff Fisher, athletic trainer Reggie Scott and head chef Anthony Zamora for optimizing the process for long trips. That process involves everything from tweaking practice reps throughout the week — the Rams started practicing earlier on Friday to adjust to their 10 a.m. kickoff on Sunday — to how the training staff fuels its players.

“It’s all about hydration, especially these long trips,” Zamora said. “Because up in the air, at high elevation, you lose more water. So I’m handing out hydration electrolyte packets before we take off. Really just trying to make sure guys are loaded up.

“Some of them, they’ll get nervous and can’t eat in the mornings. Making sure they’ve got enough carbs, water to prevent cramping and that sort of thing. It’s really just making guys eat. You can imagine it’s a lot of nerves, anticipation of Sunday.”

Injury report

Bothered by a thigh injury, Gurley nonetheless practiced in full on Friday and is listed as questionable for Sunday. The same went for defensive tackle Michael Brockers (groin), cornerback Trumaine Johnson (ankle) and defensive back Lamarcus Joyner (back).

All four starters seem likely to play against the Jets, whose injury report has reached absurd lengths. In addition to left tackle Ryan Clady, who was placed on injured reserve this week, New York has ruled out linebacker Bruce Carter (quad), defensive back Marcus Williams (ankle), linebacker Josh Martin (concussion), tight end Kellen Davis (elbow) and offensive lineman Nick Mangold (ankle).

Breaking ground

Next Thursday, the Rams will hold the ground-breaking ceremony for their new Inglewood stadium, the $2.6 billion venue that will host their home games starting in 2019.

The 70,000-seat stadium could also welcome a second NFL team, and the San Diego Chargers have an option to move north that won’t expire until Jan. 15, 2017. The Hollywood Park complex also factors into Los Angeles’ bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Jack Wang covers the Chargers, the latest NFL team to relocate to Los Angeles. He previously covered the Rams, and also spent four years on the UCLA beat, a strange period in which the Bruins' football program often outpaced their basketball team. He is a proud graduate of UC Berkeley, where he spent most of his time in The Daily Californian offices in Eshleman Hall — a building that did not become earthquake-safe until after his time on campus.

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